Small Business Award winner spotlight: C.E.C. Innovations

In the rapidly advancing world of technological innovation, C.E.C. Innovations has positioned itself at the forefront of change and progress. Founded by Paul Westlund in 2020, the company has quickly grown to become a leader in the field of water technology, earning the Bow Valley College Innovation Award at this year's Calgary Small Business Awards.

Paul Westlund, the founder behind C.E.C. Innovations, began his journey with a clear mission: to address the lack of accessible technologies for monitoring public health threats, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I knew that if I could provide a proactive response to COVID-19 that it would allow operators to be healthy, minimize the impacts to local economies and help reduce the impacts to fragile healthcare networks across this province and country.”

Originally created out of necessity, C.E.C. Innovations (through its subsidiary C.E.C. Analytics) first focused on developing effective sampling technologies to monitor COVID-19 through wastewater, and today, the company continues to lead the way in water technology solutions for public health and environmental monitoring.

A unique approach to water technology

Paul’s background as a chemist and his experiences working in third-world countries deeply influenced his career path, particularly at the intersection of water and technology.

"I was on a project that had untreated wastewater going directly into rivers. On Sundays The rivers would have foam from soaps and nearby areas along the river would have a lavender odor from laundry days. I immediately wanted to understand more about our actions and how our actions have really impacted the environment," he says.

This early exposure to the environmental impacts of wastewater sparked his interest and led him to pursue a PhD in chemical engineering from McGill University, specializing in emerging contaminants of concern.

Armed with this expertise, Paul founded C.E.C. Innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing an urgent need for better monitoring solutions. The company emerged with a unique approach to water technology, focusing on maximizing the value of wastewater— a resource often overlooked and undervalued.

"We study a type of water that is often out of sight, out of mind. It has the word waste in it. It is perceived to have no value and that couldn’t be farther from the truth," Paul explains.

By leveraging advanced techniques, C.E.C. Innovations turns wastewater and surface water into valuable data, empowering communities and public health organizations to make informed decisions.

Learning the story of water

The company's commitment to innovation and public health has not gone unnoticed. Winning the Bow Valley College Innovation Award at this year’s Calgary Small Business Awards, C.E.C. Innovations was recognized by the community for their hard work and dedication.

"This award means everything to us. It validates why I created the company, why I spend time in the middle of the nights, working behind the scenes, figuring out problems and being able to have a positive, long-lasting impact in our communities," Paul says. The recognition also highlights C.E.C. Innovations' role as a leading company in Canada and North America in the field of wastewater technology.

Beyond their technological achievements, C.E.C. Innovations is also committed to fostering community engagement and capacity building, particularly within Indigenous communities.

“We see growth happening in our ability to understand the story of water,” says Paul. “One of the elders we’ve worked closely with in Indigenous communities often speaks about the story of water and what it has to say.”

Through their work with Indigenous communities, C.E.C. Innovations aims not only to improve water quality but also to honour the deeper narrative that water holds—furthering their mission to protect public health and enhance the well-being of all communities.

Future vision and global reach

Looking ahead, Paul envisions a future where C.E.C. Innovations continues to lead in water technology and expands its global reach.

"We will use this technology for the better good and we'll expand our services to include the analysis and interpretation. I'm hoping to have more of an international impact," he says.

With samplers already in Brazil, Nepal, New Zealand, Indonesia, Finland, and throughout the US and Canada, the company is set to make a significant global impact.

Remaining optimistic about the future, Paul also believes that fostering innovation and being open to new ideas are crucial for growth.

"We should foster this innovation more. You'd be surprised at how many companies are out there that could actually build upon this," he said.

As C.E.C. Innovations continues to make strides in wastewater technology, their groundbreaking work has earned them well-deserved recognition and set the stage for continued success. In terms of what’s on the horizon, Paul is confident that the best is yet to come.

“There’s a tremendous amount of innovation that is about to happen in 2025. We’re always behind the scenes doing something, and it’s the right time for us to be recognized for it.”

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To learn more about C.E.C. Innovations, visit C.E.C.innovations.com. See the full list of winners from the 41st Calgary Small Business Awards.

Small Business Week is proudly presented by our Small Business Pillar Partner, Rogers Business. To learn more, visit calgarychamber.com/small-business.